Trail finder



April 18, 1939. M F Z|EHM 2,154,714

TRAIL FINDER Filed July 18, 1938 2\Sheets-She et l Z5 v 3 Amd? mln? ,s/ i f Nassau, House New Town "HU/iugm a @www April 18, 1939- M. F. zn-:HM n 2,154,714

TRAIL FINDER Filed July 18, 1938 2 Sheets-Shee?l 2 M .'Z, 3 z 6 Z J9 25 a 5 10 1.1 2 12 f5 5 1 2 f) )l 7 T New Town lllf;

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Patented Apr. 18, 1939 PATENT orties TRAIL FINDER Marvin F. Zi'ehm,` Hortonville, Wis., assignorto Rural f Fire VAplniratus- C0., Inc., Hoi-terwille,

Wis.'

ApplicatonJuly 18, 1938, Serial No. 219,916

12 Claims.

The object of my invention is to providea .mechanical device to be used in connection with maps .showing the Federal, State,V county, and township roadsV and also the various townships andplaces and pointsof interest, and means for locating particular points on the maps and ascertaining the. distanceto reach them.

Another objectV of my invention is to provide a code book in. which the different pointssuch as cities, townships or other points of interest are located on Vthemap by a code number.

Another objectV of my invention is to provide novel means in connection with such a map to u locate andV determine the distance between given points.

I attain these andother objects of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through same;

Fig. 3.is a perspective view of the half-moon indicator on the pivoted pointer I8 detached from each other; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus in various positions Yfor determining the distance between specified points.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a page of the code book, a portion being broken awayior lack of space.

Like numerals designate like partsin each of the several views..

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a table or wall is provided on which the device and map may be mounted. The frame 2 rpreferably has a metal border strip 3, and is-secured to the table or wall by suitable means such as screws 4. The frame 2 has a circular preferably beveled opening on which is mounted a preferably beveled dial ring 5, having suitable numerical markings, numbered consecutively from 1 to 100. The frame has a glass face 'I covering the opening and under which'is positioned the mapA 8, which is suitably secured to the table or wall, as by the thumb tacks 9.

Centrally mounted in the glass face is a center post l0 on which ispivotally mounted the main pointer arm II, thepost i0 extending through the aperture i5 in the shank of the pointer arm il. The operating knob I2 is afxed to the pointer arm II, as shown. This pointer arm II terminates in an upturned end I3 in which is located the sight opening I4 near the tip of the pointer.

Near the central portion of the pointer arm Ii and midway between thel ends -of thehalfmoon or semi-circular dial 23 is an aperture I6.

A shorter pointer arm I8 is provided, having an aperture I1 in its shank to .seat over the aperture I6 of pointer arm II. Arm I8 is pivotally connected to pointer arm II by a rivet or other 5 pivot member IS. A knob is aflixed near the free end of pointer arm I8 for convenience in operating it. The pointer arm I8 has a sight opening 2i. The free end of the pointer arm I3 terminates in a downturned pointer 22.

As vshown in Figs. 1 and 4, a semi-circular dial 23 is attached to or formedintegral with pointer armi I and is providedwith alphabetical markings 2t. extending over an arc of 90 and double alphabetical markings 2li" extending over the succeeding arc of 90.

I provide a novel code book for use in connection with my device having a code designation for each of the geographical points of interest on theiparticular map, a portion of a page of'520 this code book being illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The. apparatus is intended for the-use of re departments in rural territory, sheriis departments, highway officers, townships and villages. '25 The map, for example, may be a map of a particular county showing the Federal State and county township roads andthe various townships, or important points of interest, all of which are listed on the map at various locations, such'3o asthemain bridges, schools, churches .and farm houses. Allplaces thus indicated on the map are inv turnalphabetically listed inthe code book, together with the code number consisting of a letter or` letters and numeral, by reference towhich they may be located on the map.. Thus if the main pointer arm Ii were moved to the nurneralY 1 on the dialing 5, and the `small pointer I8.was moved so that the sight opening 2l would beover the letter T, the pointer would point40 tothe square which is named in Figs. 1 and t as National Exchange Bank. This particular building-would be listed in the code book as J-3l.

As another illustration, if the main pointer arm II Vwere set to point to the numeral 15 on thel-45 dial ring 5 and the smaller pointer set so that its sight opening 2! will rest over the letters FF of the double alphabetical markings 2 on the semi-circular dial 23, the pointer would point to the place designated as Nassau House inf.50 Figs. 1 and- 4; or ii the main pointer arm was set to point to and the shorter pointer was set to point to the letters CC, the short pointer would indicate the point of interest designateolas New Town Hall in Figs. 1 and 4. This point of in-i55 terest would also be listed in the code book as CC-65. The other geographical points of interest may be located in a similar manner by reference to the code designation and by operating the two pointer arms in the manner described.

If an emergency call is received by the sheriis department or a re department on account of a re or accident or other emergency call, the party receiving the call would refer to his code book in which the geographical points of interest are alphabetically listed, and having found the code number would then go to his map and swing the pointer until it points to the number on the dial, after which he would swing the short pointer until it points to the appropriate letter on the semi-circular dial, which would at once show him the exact spot where the place was located. He could then direct his men to proceed at once over the nearest route to the exact point without losing any time, from whatever place the men might be located or from a central station in the county.

After every point of interest that it may be desired to locate is listed in the code book, and given a denite code number, such points of interest can be located and referred to with this device in less than thirty seconds. Valuable time is thus saved by a fire department or sheriis cnice using this device.

What I claim is:

l. In a trail ilnder adapted to be placed over a map for determining distances between points on the map, the combination of a frame having an opening therein through which a map is visible and over which the frame is centered, a glass face covering said opening, a beveled dial ring encircling said opening and bearing a series of successive numerals, a central post mounted in the glass face, a pointer arm having its shank pivotally mounted on said post, a semicircular dial formed integral with the pointer arm and bearing a plurality of alphabets, a second pointer arm pivotally mounted on the rst pointer arm midway of the ends of the semicircular dial, said pointer arm having a sight opening positioned over the letters on the semi-circular dial and a downturned pointed end formed on said arm.

2. In a trail finder adapted to be placed over a map for determining distances between points on the map, the combination of a frame having an opening therein through which a map is visible and over which the frame is centered, a beveled dial ring encircling said opening and bearing a series of successive numerals, a central post, a pointer arm having its shank pivotally mounted on said post, a semi-circular dial formed integral with the pointer arm and bearing a plurality of alphabets, a second pointer arm pivotally mounted on the first pointer arm midway of the ends of the semi-circular dial, said pointer arm having a sight opening positioned over the letters on the semi-circular dial and a downturned pointed end formed on said arm.

3. In a trail finder adapted to be placed over a map for determining distances between points on the map, the combination of a frame having an opening therein through which a map is visible and over which the frame is centered, a glass face covering said opening, a dial ring encircling said opening and bearing a series of successive numerals, a central post mounted in the glass face, a pointer arm having its shank pivotally mounted on said post, a semi-circular dial formed integral with the pointer arm and bearing a plurality of alphabets, a second pointer arm pivotally mounted on the rst pointer arm midway of the ends of the semi-circular dial, said pointer arm having a downturned pointed end formed on said arm.

4. In a trail nder adapted to be placed over a map for determining distances between points on the map, the combination of a frame having an opening therein through which a map is visible and over which the frame is centered, a glass face covering said opening, a beveled dial ring encircling said opening and bearing a series of numerals, a central post mounted in the glass face, a pointer arm having its shank pivotally mounted on said post, a semi-circular dial formed integral with the pointer arm and bearing a plurality of alphabets, a second pointer arm pivotally mounted on the first pointer arm midway of the ends of the semi-circular dial, said pointer arm, having a sight opening positioned over the letters on the semi-circular dial and a downturned pointed end formed on said arm.

5. In a trail finder adapted to be placed over a map for determining distances between points on the map, the combination of a frame having an opening therein through which a map is visible and over which the frame is centered, a glass face covering said opening, a beveled dial ring encircling said opening and bearing a series of numerals, a central post mounted in the glass face, a pointer arm having its shank pivotally mounted on said post, a semi-circular dial constituting an extension of the pointer arm and bearing a plurality of alphabets, a second pointer arm pivotally mounted on the first pointer arm midway of the ends of the semicircular dial, said pointer arm having a sight opening positioned over the letters on the semicircular dial and a pointed end formed on said arm.

6. In a trail nder adapted to be placed over a map for determining distances between points on the map, the combination of a frame having an. opening therein through which a map is visible and over which a frame is centered, a glass face covering said opening, a beveled dial ring encircling said opening and bearing a series of successive numerals, a central post mounted in the glass face, a pointer arm having its shank pivotally mounted on said post, a semi-circular dial formed integral with the pointer arm and bearing successive letters, a second pointer arm pivotally mounted on the first pointer arm midway of the ends of the semi-circular dial, said pointer arm having a sight opening positioned over the letters on the semicircular dial and a downturned pointed end formed on said arm.

'7. In a trail finder adapted to be placed over a map for determining distances between points on the map, the combination of a frame having an opening therein through which a map is visible and over which the frame is centered, a glass face covering said opening, a beveled dial ring encircling said opening and bearing a series of successive numerals, a central post mounted in the glass face, a pointer arm having its shank pivotally mounted on said post, a semicircular dial formed integral with the pointer arm and bearing a plurality of alphabets, a second pointer arm pivotally mounted on the rst pointer arm midway of the ends of the semicircular dial, said pointer arm having a downturned pointed end formed on said arm.

8. In a trail nder adapted to be placed over a map for determining distances between points on the map, the combination of a frame having an opening therein through which a map is visible and over which the frame is centered, a dial ring encircling said opening and bearing a series of successive numerals, a central post, a pointer arm having its shank pivotally mounted on said post, a semi-circular dial formed integral with the pointer arm and bearing a plurality of alphabets, a second pointer arm pivotally mounted on the first pointer arm midway of the ends of the semi-circular dial, said pointer arm having a sight opening positioned over the letters on the semi-circular dial and a downturned pointed end formed on said arm.

9. In a trail nder adapted to be placed over a map for determining distances between points on the map, the combination of a frame having an opening therein through which a map is visible and over which the frame is centered, a glass face covering said opening, a beveled dial ring encircling said opening and bearing a series of numerals, a central post mounted in the glass face, a pointer arm having its shank pivotally mounted on said post, a semi-circular dial constituting an extension of the pointer arm and bearing a plurality of alphabets, a second pointer arm pivotally mounted on the first pointer arm midway of the ends of the semi-circular dial, said pointer arm having a sight opening positioned over the letters on the semi-circular dial, and a downturned pointed end formed on said arm.

10. In a trail iinder adapted to be placed over a map for determining distances between points on the map, the combination of a frame having an opening therein through which a map is visible and over which the frame is centered, a glass face covering said opening, a beveled dial ring encircling said opening and bearing a Series of successive numerals, a central post mounted in the glass face, a pointer arm having its shank pivotally mounted on said post, a semi-circular dial formed integral with the pointer arm. and bearing successive letters, a second pointer arm pivotally mounted on the rst pointer arm midway of the ends of the semi-circular dial, said pointer arm having a downturned pointed end formed on said arm.

11. In a trail nder adapted to be placed over a map for determining distances between points on the map, the combination of a frame having an opening therein through which a map is vis-'y` ible and over which the frame is centered, a. dial ring encircling said opening and bearing a series of numerals, a central post, a pointer arm having its shank pivotally mounted on said post, a semi-circular dial constituting an extension of the pointer arm and bearing a plurality of alphabets, a second pointer arm pivotally mounted on the iirst pointer arm midway of the ends of the semi-circular dial, said pointer arm having a. sight opening positioned over the letters on the semi-circular dial and a downturned pointed end formed on said arm.

12. In a trail iinder adapted to be placed over a map for determining distances between points on the map, the combination of a frame having an opening therein through which a map is visible and over which the frame is centered, a dial ring encircling said opening and bearing a series of numerals, a central post, a pointer arm having its shank pivotally mounted on said post, a semi-circular dial constituting an extension of the pointer arm and bearing successive letters, a second pointer arm pivotally mounted on the rst pointer arm midway of the ends of the semicircular dial, said pointer arm having a sight opening positioned over the letters on the semicircular dial and a downturned pointed end formed on said arm.

MARVIN F. ZIEHM. 

